I really want to tell you about what my first month on the World Race in Ecuador will look like, but I’m honestly having a hard time putting what I want to say into the correct words! Anyone who knows me well knows that is rare feeling for me, especially being a journalist! But, I’m going to give it a shot anyway and see how it goes! 
(Also, I apologize in advance for the overuse of exclamation marks (!!!!); I am so excited that it’s permeating my writing in another way rarely experienced by me!)
Team Veracity will be spending Month 1 in the village of El Tingo in Quito, Ecuador! I’ll start with a few basics about Quito before I jump into all the spiritual/detailed ministry aspects. Quito is the capital city of Ecuador which, like most capital cities, means it shows some of the largest ranges between seeing “upper class” and poverty levels within blocks of each other. Quito has a population of just over 2 million inhabitants and will be experiencing lovely 50-65 degree days while we are there and will probably only accumulate a few inches of rainfall the entire month! I’m trying not to bring in any expectations, but that sounds like a good weather forecast to me!
Fun fact: At 9,350 feet, Quito is the highest capital city in the world housing the administrative, legislative and judicial functions!
The village of El Tingo is located about 12 ½ miles from the city center of Quito. El Tingo is one of many villages severely hit when the Ecuadorian economy collapsed in the late 1990's. Since then many community support projects have been forced to close and many of the local families are in situations of severe poverty.
We will be ministering through Mano y Mano (Hand in Hand) while in El Tingo. According to their website, Hand in Hand is a Christian development agency that exists to respond to the needs and problems caused by poverty and injustice overseas. In equal partnership with organisations overseas, Hand in Hand works to give assistance, allowing poor and marginalized people and communities the opportunity to make their own choices. Hand in Hand currently has bases in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ecuador.
Our ministry contacts, Dave and Ana Garlick, first served with a Hand in Hand mission team in El Tingo in the summer of 2003 and later opened Mano y Mano (formerly La Fuente) in 2006.
Mano y Mano’s project theme is child welfare and education! Team Veracity will be the only team joining forces with five of Mano y Mano’s staff members to work with about 50 children ages 5-14 living in this very poor region of El Tingo at an after school program.
Again, anyone who knows me knows how that type of ministry yanks at my heartstrings! My love, my passion, my calling is children! Honestly, one of my fears about going on the World Race was that I wouldn’t get to work with children; I was actually scared that would happen. I loved (and still love) reading the blogs of current and past Racers about working with homeless, prostitutes, sick, etc., but didn’t, near as often, see blogs about working with children. That voice of “See? You’re not meant for this!” would creep in again since I knew I could go back to serve with Empower A Child and work ONLY with children—what my heart was longing to do!
I might never work with children again on the Race, but I’m perfectly happy with that now! God used my securities, current comfort zone and calling to calm my fears about a new experience! I’m starting with what I know and love and will expand myself (or rather be expanded by God!) ministry by ministry, month by month- whether that’s with children, sick people, construction, miraculous prayers, anything- until my comfort zone is completely wrecked!
God is good!
Psalm 94: 18-19
The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,”
your love, God, took hold and held me fast.
When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.
For more information about Mano y Mano, check out their website: http://www.hihand.org/mano-mano.html
